What was the purpose of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)?

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was created during the Great Depression to provide employment for young men while also focusing on environmental conservation projects. The primary goal of the CCC was to help alleviate the economic distress of the time by offering jobs aimed at restoring national parks, planting trees, and developing infrastructure in natural resources. Participants in the program were typically young, unmarried men who signed up for work and were paid a small wage, which they often sent back to their families, thereby also contributing to economic recovery on a broader scale. The dual focus on providing immediate relief through employment while simultaneously addressing environmental issues made the CCC a key component of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal initiatives aimed at revitalizing both the economy and the American landscape.